Sunday’s game against the Tigers has to go down as one of the toughest watches in recent memory. Even in a sport where a team with a winning record has dropped nearly 60 games, this loss in extras made the shortlist of the simply worst ones. The Blue Jays got a good start from Steven Matz, but the offense couldn’t figure out Drew Hutchison. An eigth inning run gave them the lead, but then the ninth happened. The visual of Marcus Semien sending the last out of the game into the dirt in front of Vladdy Jr. makes me feel like I’m in Spain without the S, but the game was lost in too many other ways. Scoring two runs across nine innings against Hutch and Co and then handing it away in extras won’t win you much anyway.

I don’t even know how to go about this one. It just sucked. One of the worst losses at a time where every loss feels gutwrenching. Can’t believe a misthrow with 2out in the 9th ruined the series win.

Let’s just get those White Sox tomorrow, I guess.

— Nick Reid (@ReidAboutSports) August 22, 2021

It’s been a tumultuous stretch for the Blue Jays, and the matinee finale against Detroit was as brutal as it gets, and hopefully cap off a slide of bad games before it surpasses single digits. Losing at home to Detroit following a mini sweep by the Washington Nationals is as rough as it gets, or at least I hope that’s the case. I told Dean last week that the Jays needed to win their share against +.500 teams down the stretch to become a Wild Card candidate, but they couldn’t even beat the bad ones. What does that make them? Not the playoff team they could be.

As much as the last week and a half has sucked as a fan of this ballclub, we can only move forward and look at what the Jays need to do to get themselves out of this hole. And that means they’ve got to start winning more ballgames. And there’s no better time and place to do that than this upcoming series when the Chicago White Sox come to town. Get ready for a BIG four-game slate going toe-to-toe with the Central division leaders. I’m fired up.

"They're gonna keep fighting, I promise you that."

Charlie Montoyo talks about the Blue Jays struggling offence after losing in extra innings to the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/bzex7XjN6e

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 22, 2021

Pitching at Rogers Centre for the first time, Alek Manoah twirled another gem.

The @BlueJays rookie tossed 7 scoreless innings with 4 K's and allowed 2 hits. pic.twitter.com/uxy7Brg6pX

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 31, 2021

This series is a big litmus test for the Blue Jays in their chase for legitimacy, and that just implies that these games mean more. The hungry dog runs faster, and this ballclub needs to hunker down and get goin’. Wipe the last week-plus out the window and focus on what you gotta do to win ballgames. As frustrating as this team can be, I still think they can do it. I know they’re capable. So let’s get back on the radar and cement yourself as one of the biggest threats in the Junior circuit.

Alek Manoah, Filthy Two Seamers. 😷

11Ks in 6.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/dxaEveaT6b

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 12, 2021

I’ll be there Monday, and so will Alek Manoah. The rookie has delivered on more than several occasions, and we’re gonna need the stud to shove opposite a guy who is as consistent as can be in Lance Lynn. Let’s get the offense cookin’ in front of a fired-up home crowd, and engage in as few bullpen highwire acts as possible. Come at the Chi Sox one inning at a time for 9 innings a game, and take at least three of four games within the most pivotal series of their 2021 season. Let’s go. Get ready for a massive week of Blue Jays baseball.